The Use of Hypnotic Age Progressions as Prognostic, Ego-Strengthening, and Integrating Techniques

This article reports on the use of hypnosis to facilitate the diagnostic process and the treatment of an unusual case of adult psychogenic amnesia. An Iraqi citizen living in the U.S. developed an atypical case of Dissociative Amnesia, Systematized type, post-automotive collision. The amnesia presented with features encompassing complete loss of the patient's native language. Dissociation theory as a conceptualization of hysterical reactions was employed as the basis in the formulation of this case. The differential diagnosis was facilitated by the Hypnotic Diagnostic Interview for Hysterical Disorders (HDIHD) Adult Form, an interview tool specifically designed for cases such as this. Treatment consisted exclusively of ego strengthening and time projection approaches in hypnosis. It was hypothesized that, as the coping capacities became more viable, the dissociative symptoms would remiss. After 6 weekly visits the patient regained complete command of his native language. Follow-up at 6 months indicated that the patient remained devoid of symptoms.

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 97%

Diagnosis and Hypnotic Treatment of an Unusual Case of Hysterical Amnesia

Iglesias

2009

“…We (Phillips & Frederick, 1992) have reported the use of hypnotic age progressions as prognostic, ego-strengthening, and integrating techniques. In our view, progressions work at both the conscious and the unconscious levels.…”

Section: Review Of the Literature On Hypnoticmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Forus (Phillips & Frederick, 1992), age progressions exist on a continuum from highly structured, therapist-initiated suggestions for specific, future experience to more indirect, unstructured progressions suggested by multi-level communication patterns such as metaphor and the lan-91 guage of paradox and confusion. In our experience, spontaneous age progressions initiated by the patient appear to be equally, if not more, valuable to those suggested by the therapist in contributing positive benefits to the therapy process.…”

Section: Review Of the Literature On Hypnoticmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We (1992) have previously concluded that age progressions as part of the treatment procedure could be extremely powerful, because many patients who come to therapy may be already utilizing negative age-progression experiences that they have spontaneously generated. Thus, the entrance into the therapy process can be in itself the initiation of a more positive age progression (Phillips & Frederick, 1992).…”

Section: Review Of the Literature On Hypnoticmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Use of Hypnotic Age Progressions as Interventions with Acute Psychosomatic Conditions

Frederick¹,

Phillips²

1992

Self Cite

Patients with the physical manifestations and physiological disturbances engendered by serious psychosomatic conditions often present with special needs in therapy. On a conscious level, these patients may have pessimistic views of the future, including the specter of imminent death, which, for some, is a real possibility. In this paper we review four clinical cases in which hypnotic age progressions reveal the patients' deepest positive hopes for survival and serve as ego-strengthening, integrating, and prognostic tools in the face of ominous symptoms of physical distress.

“…It is projective in nature to the extent that the outline provided by the hypnotherapist is filled in by the patient with subjective detail. The second script will be that of the relatively unstructured age progression (Phillips & Frederick, 1992;Frederick & Phillips, 1991).…”

Section: Scripts For Age Progressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inner Strength and other Techniques for Ego Strengthening

McNeal¹,

Frederick²

1993

Self Cite

For most therapists who employ hypnoanalytic techniques, ego strengthening stands as the bedrock upon which other techniques are structured. Much ego strengthening takes place indirectly, and its effects are often perceived as improved therapeutic alliance, heightened insight, increased clarity of thinking, and/or improved self-esteem on the part of the patient. Since Hartland introduced ego-strengthening techniques, most therapists have placed emphasis on formal ego-strengthening procedures, both sentences and visualizations. More recently age-progression procedures have been used for ego strengthening. In this paper we introduce the concept of "Inner Strength" as a helpful ego state, and we review three ways of helping the patient get in touch with inner resources in a way that strengthens the ego. We discuss relevant cases and present the appropriate scripts provided for implementing these techniques.